Thursday, September 29, 2011

Shirdi Sai Jayanti 2011


Shirdi Sai Baba's Jayanti was celebrated on 27 September 2011, at 8.00pm.  We chanted Vedas and sang bhajans.  As the date coincided with the 1st day of the Chinese lunar month, we also chanted Tibetan Buddhist mantras.  Refreshments was served after arathi.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/16


There are dogs who swim and dogs who hunt
And dogs which crouch thro’ snowy peaks;
There are some who yelp a pigmy grunt
And some whose barks are tiny squeaks.

Some guide the blind, some, sledges drag
And some like Leika are shot through space;
There are dogs of whom their masters brag
And long legged-ones that race.

But, of all the dogs that wag the tail
The purest, the best, is Kuttan, the Lame.
Of all the dogs that follow the trail
The saintliest one is Kuttan! The same!

No pedigreed dog; he was limping, cold,
Wet from the rain, with a cough on his chest
When he came to Bikkati, a pup of gold.
His manners were good, his habits, best.

He served the village as if duty bound
From dusk to dawn, from dawn to dark;
He growled and prowled like a hefty hound;
The village slept to the music of his bark.

‘Twas April sixty-one, twenty second day,
Bikkatti rose, full happy and gay,
For Baba was coming, He was on the way;
‘Twas no longer a question of `may’.

The valleys deep in ecstasy did thrill;
The road was sad, it hair-pinned so;
‘Sai Ram! Sai Ram’ repeated each hill
as the wayside trees did bend so low.

Believe me, it was Kuttan’s gladdest day!
He ran, he leaped, without reason pranced;
He whined, he wailed, he barked jai
When Baba came, he knew his God; he danced.

His lotus Feet he saw; he took his stance
And fell as humans do, mumbling a hymn;
He smelt those fragrant Feet, O, Lucky Chance!
Baba smiling waved His Hand; and ... called Him?

Soon as Baba left us lonely, we gave to all
The feast that He had touched;
Kuttan’s ear had caught the Call;
He gulped the sacred meal and lurched.

Half blind with tears, he sniffed the air
He reached the Holy Dias and kept
His head on His Footstool there!
He breathed his last!…….the village wept!

We rolled him in the silky sheet
Which Baba’s soles had pressed;
We dug his grave near the sanctified seat
And showered the flowers by Baba blessed.

We are proud of our brother, proud of the way
This Bikkatti Kuttan spent his day.
Dear Kuttan the Lame, he taught us the way
To live and—how to get away.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/15


This is a story about Krishna.... In a way, the story was not completed until November, 1975.

A number of years ago, 1 was in Bhagawan's car. He was in the rear seat with two persons, one on each side of Him. I was in the front seat, with the driver. We were on our way to Puttaparthi.

Driving in the car with Swami is a fascinating experience. Not only is there the thrill of being close to the Divine Lord Himself, but, sometimes He will give you the opportunity to ask questions. Sometimes, He engages in animated conversation in Telugu with the companions. Sometimes, He indulges in jokes with one or other of them. Sometimes, He remains silent, making the characteristic gesture with His Hand that seems to indicate that He is giving attention to something quite unknown to us. And, very often, He sings bhajans, with every one in the car joining in the chorus (except me, who has a musical voice, akin to the crow). The net result of all this enthralling activity is that my neck is constantly being twisted in order to see what is going on in the back seat. Swami understands my plight, but, does not advise me to desist; He allows me the liberty to turn round. Of course, I do not stare all the time. I look only so l ong as I dare and then I resume my posture, turning to the front again. So, my looking at Swami is intermittently back and forth.

At some point in the journey, maybe about half way, Swami was talking and I turned to look. My breathing stopped and I was transfixed! I could not credit my eyes. His devotees see Swami's Face as beautiful indeed, although the chief impression I receive from His feature is that of Power and Majesty.

What transfixed my movement and stopped my breathing was Swami's Face... The Swami I know was not there! Instead, there was a Face of the most extraordinary beauty, quite different of shape and cast from the features of our Beloved Sai. The charm was so great, so poignant that my heart seemed to twist, almost as though it were in pain. Never in life, nor in photos, nor in painting by great artists have I seen a Face of such exquisite beauty. It was beyond imagination and concept, totally out of experience.

And His colour was blue. Not just blue, not the blue with which artists paint Krishna but, a deep blue, like the velvet blue that sometimes can be seen in a dark sky, like a blue that I have at times seen from the deck of a ship thousands of miles from shore on the Pacific Ocean. I do not know how else to describe it.

I could not remove my eyes from Swami. At length, I caught myself and turned away. But, at once, I looked again, and the same beauty surely not of the world, was still there. This continued for at least fifteen minutes. The two men sitting with Swami were beginning to look at me with somewhat puzzled expressions for, my staring was different from what they had become used to.

After a few miles, Vittala Rao (on Swami's left) asked me, "Hislop! What were you staring at Swami like that?"

Instead of answering, I directed a question to Swami, "Swami! What was that blue colour?" Swami replied, "Oh! That? Whenever there is something of unfathomable depth, it appears to be deep blue.”

That was the end of the conversation. Naturally the thought had come to mind that may be this was Lord Krishna, but, neither then, nor at any time in connection with this experience did I ever say the name of Krishna to Swami.

There the matter rested until November 1975. It was before people started to arrive in multitudes for the Birthday. Swami's schedule was still somewhat free and He was taking me with Him in the jeep and so on... and probably, that was why I got invited into the Interview. An army man and his wife had come from Assam. They were devotees, but this was their first time to actually see Swami. Often people wait for months for interview, but this family was called as soon as they arrived. I was seated on the verandah of the Mandir and saw them go into Swami's room. No sooner had they entered than Swami motioned to me.

There was the mother and father, the son and daughter. Swami spoke to them most lovingly. He knew everything about their lives and it was very evident that He was an intimate member of that household.

After a while, Swami asked me, "Hislop! Tell them some experiences.” I complied and after mentioning some incidents, I told the same story just now related in these pages, but, not even then, did I mention the Krishna name. The man was deeply impressed and words broke from His lips, "Oh! That had to be Lord Krishna"

Swami smiled and said, "Yes, that was Krishna; not the Krishna pictured by artists and imagined by writers. I showed Hislop the real Krishna.” The man said, "Oh! How I want to see Krishna.” Swami smiled again and said, "Wait; wait.”

There is a sequel to this story. About a month later, in December, at Brindavan, I was talking with Swami and I brought forward the names of some famous saints and gurus of the past and Swami said some things about them. Then the idea struck me that, wonderful though it must have been to know those great personages and learn from them, the present day was the first time since Krishna lived that one could have God Himself as Guru. So I started to say, "Swami! In the thousands of years of time, since Krishna...."

Swami interrupted me before I could say another word and exclaimed "Time since Krishna...? I am Krishna. Where is Time?" I folded my hands and bent low to Him and said, "Well, Swami. This is the best of all times, to be born!"

Swami replied, "Yes; the most fortunate of all times. Even more fortunate to be born now, than during the Krishna Avatar.”

Once before, within my hearing, Swami declared Himself as Lord Krishna. This story has been told in detail elsewhere. It happened in Dharmakshetra, at Bombay (Mumbai), and came about as part of the extra ordinary drama of `the weeping saris' to which a few of us in the room with Swami were the fascinated witnesses. I had exclaimed that this had to be the reenactment this very day of the drama of the mountain that had occurred in the Avatars of Sri Rama and Sri Krishna. Bhagawan replied, "Yes; it is the selfsame Rama and the selfsame Krishna Who is here this very day.”

In the light of what has been recited in the preceding pages by me, a direct witness and participant, we need never look back with even the slightest tinge of envy to those fortunate people who lived during those wonderful days of the Krishna Avatar. This very day, and every day that we look at our Beloved Sai, we are, gazing directly at Sri Krishna.

Let us treasure His Divine presence. In ages to come, the rich experience of our days will be told and retold as the wondrous story of the Sai Avatar.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/14


Sri Ramanatharao of the Sirpur Kagaz-nagar heard of Baba only last month, at Shimoga, where he had gone on a visit to his sister soon after retiring from the Paper Factory. From the accounts given by her, he felt a keen desire to go to Puttaparthi, but his health was against it; so, as he wrote in his letter he was very much pained. On August 8th, he finished his Sandhya-vandanam and his Gayatri-japam and was reciting his mantram, the Upadesh he had got from Swami Ramadas, "Om Sriram Jayaram Jayajaya Ram." While he was lost in the joy of that recitation, Baba appeared clearly before; he rose and shouting, "Baba," "Baba," he fell at His feet.
He asked Him (every one could see him addressing Baba but, no one else could see Baba)" Baba I have written 54 lakhs 21 thousand Likhita Japam of this Mantra; bless me so that I could complete a crore." (What a pious holy prayer, that!) Baba replied that he had already completed a crore of Ramnam and there was no more need to worry. "You can do Puja to the Books as soon as you return home" Baba said.
Then, in a flash, Baba disappeared and Ramanatharao saw the effulgent Vision of Ramapattabhisheka. He sang in his ecstasy the slokas describing the Scene and he prostrated on the floor. Then, that vision gave place to that of his Guru Swami Ramadas Himself! Lastly came Baba Himself, the Benefactor who had vouchsafed to the saintly Sadhaka all these visions, He fell at His Feet again and asked Him for Prasadam, and lo, all present saw a packet of Vibhuti fall into his palms (from the Divine Hand of Baba, which was so plainly visible to him.) Baba assures all, that Sadhana sincerely done will never go to waste; it is bound to yield fruit. He gave Ramanatharao the fruit of his Sadhana… the Vision of his Guru, his Ishthadevata and of Himself, Who is Sarvadevata Swarupa.
Yes. Baba is the Repository of all the Devata Swarupas. How else can we explain the experience of Vamadevan on the frontiers of India? He was moving along the border, all alone, with just a pistol by his side when he was pounced upon by 8 men from the other side, who tried to blindfold him and drag him across the line. He had with him a photograph of Baba, given by Him when he was last at Puttaparthi. He knew that Baba would save him, for Baba had told him, when the photograph was given, that he should keep it always with him. Well. He remembered it now. (It is very difficult to remember such things in a crisis). He showed it to his attackers. "They all prostrated before It and turned back, leaving me alone," Vamadevan writes! "Prostrated!" Who knows what vision Baba vouchsafed to those vile men, so that their hearts were touched by reverence so sudden and so great? He is Sarvadevata Swarupa…He knows!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Mid-Autumn Festival 2011


Mid-autumn festival was celebrated on 11 September 2011, at 7.00pm.  We chanted Vedas, Tibetan Buddhist mantras, and bhajans.  Refreshments was served after arathi.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/13


One day Radha intended to enter Brindavan to pick up some dried pieces of cow dung. She was making some attempts to enter the city and Krishna recognised that Radha was making such attempts. Since Nanda was the head of the place, a watchman was guarding the entrances at the behest of Nanda. Krishna instructed the watchman to state that only men are permitted to enter Brindavan and women are strictly prohibited from coming in.

Thus, when Radha was trying to enter Brindavan on one day with her basket for collecting dried pieces of cow dung, the watchman said that no woman can enter Brindavan. Radha was utterly confused on hearing this. Smilingly, Radha asked, "Can you stay in Brindavan? If you can enter Brindavan, I can also enter." The watchman replied, "I am a man, you are a woman." Radha replied, "You are making a big mistake. In this world, Krishna is the only Purusha. All others are women. If you can enter, I can also enter." In this manner, she argued with great strength and questioned the watchman by asking, "How can you call yourself a man, simply because you are wearing robes and dress appropriate to a man?"

She forced her entry into Brindavan. Krishna, Who was coming behind, noticed this and said that since Radha forced her entry contrary to the orders of Krishna, and since she was a woman, she will have to pay a tax by way of penalty for disobeying his orders. Radha replied, "Oh Lord! The heart you have given me is my only property. I can return it to you by way of tax. I have neither wealth nor possessions to pay tax in any other manner. I shall gladly surrender my only belonging, namely my heart, to you."

Krishna replied "Golden Radha, Brindavan has come into existence to immortalise the kind of divine relationship that exists between me as Paramatma and you as Prakruthi. Posterity will know that Krishna was always enshrined in the heart of Radha. This commitment made by me will always convey the meaning of the relationship that existed between Radha and Krishna.

Where there is Prakruthi, there will be Paramatma. Where there is Paramatma, there will be creation. Paramatma and Prakruthi are like the object and the image. Wherever we may go, the combination and the confluence of the two aspects of Radha and Krishna will be what people can see in this world."
Bhagawan discoursed further elborating the Divine relationship:

To regard Radha of the Bhagavatha as an ordinary woman, to regard Krishna as an ordinary human being, a man, and to regard the relationship between them as no more than between a man and a woman, as people generally understand, is very wrong and quite contrary to what the author of the sacred text of the Bhagavatha intended to convey. This relationship is the sacred relationship that exists between God and His creation. It is as inseparable as the white colour of milk is inseparable from the milk itself. The colour of the milk is white.

It is not possible for us to remove the white colour from milk. If we turn milk into curds, the curd is also white. If we churn the curd and get buttermilk out of it, the buttermilk is also white. If from that buttermilk, we separate the butter, it is also white. Thus, do what you may, it is not possible to separate the white colour of milk from the milk itself. Radha is part and parcel of Krishna even as much as white colour is part and parcel of milk. The kind of association between Radha and Krishna has no parallel in the world and cannot occur in any other instance.

Today, only when we understand this and put into practice, at least to some extent, the lessons we can draw from the relationship between Radha and Krishna, will we be in a position to promote the aspects of Krishna, in their divine form, throughout the world. On the contrary, we should not regard Radha as one individual and Krishna as another individual and promote this thought based on a difference between them. This oneness of Radha and Krishna has been referred to in the bible as "Kingdom of God." This aspect of oneness of Prakruthi and Paramatma has been referred to, in several religions, by using different words. However, to enable common people to understand the significance of Radha, our ancients have created a form and a name. But whoever, continually and at all times thinks of Krishna, is a Radha. This is an aspect and not a name.

For this sacred and divine aspect of Radha, we have been ascribing several distorted meanings. Radha is no other than a faithful image of Krishna, the object. We should undertake such action as will lead us to Krishna. The Creator is Krishna. The creation is the Prakruthi. Action is needed to be able to cultivate divine love. As a result of the love of Krishna, we should be able to reach Him. Today, we have understood the meaning and significance of the love of Radha for Krishna. We should now be prepared to interpret all her actions against the background of such divine love.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

GANESH CHATURTHI 2011



Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated on 1 September 2011, at 8.00pm, with veda chanting, Sai mantras and bhajans.